Chapter 61

**Chapter 61**

Though the emperor sent letters almost daily, as the army moved farther from the capital, messages became increasingly delayed. The empress dowager, perhaps consumed by worry, chose to fast and pray at Fuhua Temple.

Fu Ye formally assumed his role as regent.

Though he had the Secretariat’s support and Chancellor Xie and others assisting him in court, his daily workload remained immense. He rose before dawn and often worked until late at night.

Many crave the throne, but without years of training, few can handle its weight.

The workload was tough—but everyone struggles.

The real strain was psychological.

The pressure of decisions impacting the nation and its people terrified him. At first, he could hardly eat or sleep, fearing failure.

He yearned for Fu Huang’s return.

Fu Huang was far more suited to be emperor.

He was better suited to a supporting role.

Beyond routine governance, he also took time to inspect various parts of the capital, forcing him to leave the palace often.

These inspections not only served as oversight but also reassured the people and bolstered the royal family’s prestige. Now a celebrity in the capital, he drew crowds wherever he went.

Zhao Ziying wrote to Zhang Gui, mentioning him as well, describing his inspection of suburban farmlands: “The roads were jammed, spectators thick as clouds,” and “Prince Huan removed his shoes and socks, tilling the fields himself, winning the people’s admiration.”

Naturally, Zhang Gui relayed this to Fu Huang.

He noticed that recently, among the messages from the capital, one letter always came on gilded paper, with a rose tucked inside the envelope.

Such delicate touches couldn’t be from Chancellor Xie or the rest—only the prince could be responsible.

He told Zhao Ziying about it, and the couple agreed this meant something.

The thought that the emperor and prince mirrored their love left them stunned and thrilled.

Thrilled that the Son of Heaven and the prince shared their bond, shocked because… well, this was the emperor and the prince.

Next to that, their own high-profile romance paled.

He recounted Zhao Ziying’s letter to the emperor, carefully observing his reaction.

The emperor, towering and unreadable, seldom revealed his feelings. Yet upon hearing this, a flicker of warmth crossed his gaze as he remarked, “He’s always had a flair for that.”

Zhang Gui quickly added, “The prince once told me he wished one day to behold the entirety of Great Zhou’s lands. He is eloquent and graceful. When peace reigns, Your Majesty could tour the realm with him, fulfilling his dream while displaying the imperial family’s majesty to all.”

Honestly, he’d long meant to suggest that the current emperor was too stern, his reputation poor, and that the court badly needed a charming, easygoing prince like him to make public appearances—benefiting both the imperial house and the emperor himself.

Fu Huang mulled over Zhang Gui’s idea and liked it.

Once the realm was secure, he’d take him on a nationwide tour.

Fu Ye adored attention—he’d let him bask in it endlessly.

There were so many things he wanted to do.

He longed to return to the palace, to kiss and cherish him, to stay by his side forever. Looking back on how they’d come together, he grew convinced heaven had blessed him, granting such a gift in his weary years. If he did not rally his spirit and strive, he’d be ungrateful for heaven’s grace.

He slipped the rose mentioned in the letter inside his robe, then slung the sword with its black scabbard—long his companion in battle—behind his back and emerged from the command tent.

After years without the scent of battle, he now felt a surge of excitement.

Outside the dragon-patterned golden tent stood many generals. The Emperor planned to take elite troops ahead of the main army, advancing early to the frontlines at Tiger Valley Pass. For an emperor to lead the vanguard was dangerously reckless—he should have remained in the rear as the army's anchor.

They were all deeply concerned, but the Emperor's orders were absolute, and none could dissuade him.

If only Prince Huan were present, perhaps he could have persuaded him.

Night had fallen, and the crowd watched as the Emperor mounted his horse.

Zhang Gui stood by the bonfire, his robes rustling in the wind. Under this starless, moonless sky, conditions were ideal for a night attack.

Zhao Ziying had written in his letter that, after observing the heavens, he'd forecast rain in the capital these last two days. He wondered if it had started yet.

He also thought of how life and death on the battlefield were decided in an instant. As the Emperor rode into the distance, the Prince remained oblivious a thousand li away. Should fortune turn against them, the Emperor might perish while still just a dream-figure to the Prince.

The notion brought him shared grief.

A thousand li separated north and south, with messages taking days to travel. Recently, the capital had been awash with dire reports—it was said the forces of Liang were nearing Hebei, with Xu Zongyuan and a few other generals making their last stand at the natural fortress of Tiger Valley Pass.

Yet lately, a juicier rumor than war news had begun to spread secretly in the capital.

Some claimed that His Highness Prince Huan was not truly the Sixth Prince.

First, he was unusually handsome.

Not just compared to the deceased Prince of Qi and the others—even standing beside the current Emperor, there was no resemblance in height or features.

Second, he had been missing for years, raising questions about his true identity.

Most, however, dismissed the rumor.

“Isn’t it just that Prince Huan takes after his mother, Lady Zhaoyang?”

“Exactly. You think some imposter could just waltz in claiming royal blood and get away with it? When Prince Huan returned, he endured exhaustive scrutiny.”

“Right. I bet someone’s spreading lies to undermine public confidence while the Emperor’s away at war!”

Prince of Ankang: “…”

At home, he nearly smashed the gold-embroidered tiger screen his subordinate had just gifted him in fury.

Rebellion wasn't his current intent. As long as Fu Huang lived, who would dare?

He was merely… laying groundwork.

What if Fu Huang never returned?

This was the plan his trusted advisors had proposed these past few days.

“With the Emperor away at war and his fate uncertain, if something happens to him, would Your Highness truly hand over the empire to Prince Huan without a fight?”

“Prince Huan has only just returned—he has no faction in court, no solid foundation. Competing against the Emperor was hopeless, but against him? There’s a chance.”

Having lived in fear and submission for so long, the Prince of Ankang couldn’t help but feel a flicker of ambition. After years as the first heir presumptive, who wouldn’t entertain fantasies? The position was perilous—living under Fu Huang's mercurial rule meant constant fear for his life. He’d had enough.

“Throughout history, deposed crown princes never met good ends. Your Highness, as the first heir, were practically half a crown prince. The Empress Dowager and other high ministers once placed great hopes in you. If a new ruler ascends, do you think you'd be allowed to live?”

That’s spot on!

Is the future really going to be more terrifying than the past?

His damn bloodline’s ruined him!

Prince Huan’s status, lineage, and influence now all surpass his. If Prince Huan has one weakness, it’s probably the lingering doubts about his origins.

He just wanted to plant some rumors first, laying groundwork for the future.

Who knew barely anyone would buy it?

But he wasn’t lying, was he?

Prince Huan doesn’t even look like Fu Dynasty royalty, right?

Now, some have even begun speculating whether someone is behind these rumors.

Terrified, the Prince of Ankang barricaded himself in his mansion, not daring to step outside.

But his inner circle had bigger balls than he did. Seeing him too scared to leave, they brought a distinguished guest to see him.

The guy looked about thirty, with a short beard and plain-faced but with an elite vibe. He claimed to be from Zhezhou and offered to serve as his strategist.

After decades of playing it safe in the capital, now with a household full of wives, concubines, and children, the prince naturally didn’t trust outsiders easily.

The man smirked, “Do you even know who I am, Highness?”

The Prince of Ankang glanced at his advisors and noticed several senior ones standing respectfully behind the man.

He stiffened. “The hell are you?”

The man gave a mock bow and said, “I am He Yan, strategist to the Emperor of Liang.”

!!

The prince went sheet-white, whipping toward his advisors, eyes blazing: “You… you’re trying to get me killed?! Guards!”

He Yan cut in, cool as ice, “Your Highness might want to think carefully before calling for guards.”

As he spoke, the manor’s steward entered with attendants.

He Yan didn’t even blink. “Your move, Highness. Since I dared reveal my identity, I came prepared. Killing us matters little, but imagine if the palace learned of Your Highness’ secret dealings with a Liang strategist—what would become of your entire household?”

The prince’s pretty-boy face contorted with fury as he turned to his advisors: “You… you…”

An old advisor dropped to his knees, begging, “Your Highness should hear this lord’s counsel. Better to fight than wait for the knife.”

He Yan added, “Does Your Highness believe only these few in the capital belong to our Red Lotus Society?”

“The Red Lotus Society…” The prince staggered back, crashing into his throne.

Behind him, the massive golden tiger tapestry seemed ready to pounce.

At Cien Palace, a palace eunuch rushed through the floral-pendant gate into the Spring Court Hall.

Fu Ye, swamped in Fu Huang’s oversized dragon robe, was in a hushed talk with Chancellor Xie. Eunuch Qin took the secret missive from the official and handed it over, head ducked like a scolded dog.

Fu Ye scanned it, then tossed it to Chancellor Xie without a word.

Chancellor Xie glanced over and looked up. “Your Highness sees everything.”

It wasn’t that Fu Ye was prescient at all.

He was a total amateur when it came to strategy.

This was pure dumb luck.

In the original story, the male lead rose to power with considerable help from the Red Lotus Society, so Fu Ye had long been wary of them. At first, he simply thought the group was like a cockroach that wouldn’t stay dead—worried they might stir up trouble during the chaos. But recently, he found out that the Red Lotus Society in the capital were actually making moves.

Following the trail further, he discovered several members were retainers in the household of the Prince of Ankang.

That set off alarm bells for Fu Ye.

He hadn’t interacted much with the Prince of Ankang. From what he remembered, the man had fair skin, no beard, a gentle temperament, and was into fancy artsy stuff. Among the imperial Fu clan, the prince had been the most enthusiastic about him—almost as if his arrival had saved him. Back at Fuhua Temple, they’d hit it off, and even now, Fu Ye still kept the *Portrait of Lady Li Adorning Flowers* gifted by the Prince of Ankang hanging in his palace.

In ancient warfare, raiding enemy supplies was a common tactic. Fu Ye guessed Huang Tianyi and his men were trying to burn Great Zhou from both sides.

And yesterday, Zhao Ziying had written to say there were rumors spreading in the capital about where he came from—likely the work of these same people.

Xiao Ai: “Could it be the Prince of Ankang has colluded with them and is plotting rebellion?”

Fu Ye: “With war coming, any unrest in the capital would distract Fu Huang. If he gets distracted and loses the battle, the city will spiral into chaos.”

It would become a vicious cycle—and everything would collapse in an instant.

Now that’s a dirty trick! They even used my identity against me.

“Rumors are just rumors. They can’t prove you’re fake. As long as the emperor accepts you, no one else can do anything.”

Fu Ye said, “So the real goal of the rumors is to clear the path for the Prince of Ankang. We need to keep a close eye on him.”

Chancellor Xie asked, “Should we wait a bit longer? See who else among the officials in the capital are remnants of the Red Lotus Society? Then we could wipe them out completely.”

Fu Ye thought for a moment and replied, “If we let them grow stronger, even if we eliminate them later, the capital might still go to hell.”

War was imminent—the capital couldn’t afford instability. He was still new to this game and wasn’t about to roll those dice.

Early the next morning, just as He Yan and his men had gotten up and were about to pressure Fu Xian again, they saw the estate steward booking it toward Fu Xian’s main courtyard.

One of the prince’s retainers called out, “What’s all the fuss?”

The steward stammered, shaking, “The Golden Armor Guard has surrounded the prince’s mansion! They say Prince Huan is coming today!”

Prince of Ankang: “!!”

Someone save me!

He Yan: “Already?!”

Now serving as Regent, Prince Huan was calling even bigger shots, and his procession naturally got even more extravagant.

Wherever he went, crowds gathered. Today’s visit to the prince’s residence was even more over-the-top. The prince led his entire family to the gate to greet him, only to see a mob of people already packed outside.

He was about to pass out before Huan even arrived.

Soon, banners stitched with sun, moon, and star motifs fluttered in the wind as Prince Huan’s entourage, flanked by the Golden Armor Guard, approached the gate. A short while later, Fu Ye appeared atop the royal carriage, wearing crimson dragon robes, his golden crown adorned with wings that looked like they might fly right off.

Fu Xian felt completely outshone, kneeling on the ground with sweat soaking through his back.

Fu Ye descended from the imperial carriage and entered the Prince of Ankang’s residence directly.

Fu Xian was trembling in fear, bowing his head as he followed behind.

The Prince of Ankang’s residence was less than half the size of Prince Huan’s, but its pavilions and towers carried a distinct Jiangnan charm. The golden-armored guards followed them inside, and Fu Xian had only taken a few steps before he dropped to his knees with a loud thud: “Your Highness, Your Highness, I was truly deceived! It was all my retainers colluding with outside officials, Your Highness!”

Fu Ye nodded. “Go on.”

Though Fu Xian had treacherous ideas, he lacked the courage to act—years under Fu Huang’s oppressive shadow had left him timid. At first, he had merely bided his time, but over the years, his fear had become ingrained, leaving him without any royal courage. Now, seeing Fu Ye leading troops into his residence, he knew that if he didn’t confess, his entire household would be doomed.

He confessed everything in detail.

After listening, Fu Ye remained silent, simply taking a seat in the main hall.

Before long, Li Dun and his men escorted He Yan and the others into the hall.

He Yan, however, showed some defiance this time, refusing to kneel.

With a light kick from Li Dun, he was forced to his knees before Fu Ye.

A few days prior, when He Yan had seen Fu Ye on the imperial avenue, he had thought him both noble and stunningly beautiful, thinking their emperor, who favored both men and women, would want such beauty in his harem once they conquered the capital.

Now, looking at Fu Ye again, he found him even more dazzling, his beauty radiantly exquisite.

Truly, he had never seen such a breathtakingly handsome man in his life, spellbinding and radiant.

Fu Ye glanced at He Yan. “You are Huang Tianyi’s strategist?”

He Yan replied, “Execute me if you must. We follow our lord in pursuit of our great cause and have long disregarded life and death.”

Fu Ye said, “Indeed. Since you’ve thrown yourselves into my Jian Tai City, you must have been prepared for anything.”

His tone was light, his voice enchanting, his beauty like summer blossoms—utterly captivating. With an innocent expression, he turned to the black-armored guard captain who had kicked He Yan. “Commander Li, I know nothing of interrogation. I leave them to you.”

His beauty, coupled with his gentle demeanor and soft voice, caused unexpected unease among those present.

He then turned to the Prince of Ankang. “Who were those retainers you mentioned earlier?”

Several retainers at the door had already collapsed in fear.

Outside, a large crowd had gathered, watching as ministry of justice officials and other high-ranking figures hurriedly arrived at the prince’s residence in carriages, sparking whispers in the crowd.

The Minister of Justice and other officials quickly approached Fu Ye, listening to the full account of events.

Fu Ye said, “At this critical time, the law must be strictly enforced. How these men are interrogated and punished is your duty.”

The Minister of Justice and the others bowed. “Understood.”

Fu Ye stood. “With the capital under strict guard, we must also investigate how these men infiltrated. All involved shall be dealt with according to the laws of Great Zhou. Once the investigation is complete, notices will be posted throughout the capital and circulated to other provinces. Let this serve as a warning to all subjects of Great Zhou—any who seek to destabilize our nation shall face the consequences.”

His gaze then returned to He Yan.

Moments ago, He Yan had thought him delicate and overly beautiful, but now, he saw him as a jade-faced King of Hell.

“After their interrogation, display them in caged carts through all provinces.”

He Yan: “!!”

Was this to intimidate their Red Lotus Society? And with Great Zhou’s populace fiercely loyal to Great Zhou, how would they survive such a tour?

What a venomous beauty!

"Our Emperor will take Jiantai City—it's only a matter of time!"

Fu Ye’s face was a mask, his delicate brows slightly furrowed with a trace of a sinister edge. He said, "Perhaps. But you likely won’t live to see it."

Prince Huan got to his feet and strode out, where the sun blazed brightly. An Inner Official was already holding a gold canopy patterned with suns, moons, and stars to shield him from the scorching rays. With such grandeur and pomp, he might as well have been an emperor!

Upon returning to the palace, Fu Ye wrote up a report on the matter to submit to Fu Huang. Before he could finish, however, Chancellor Xie, who had been resting at the neighboring Changqing Palace, burst in and said, "His Majesty took his guards and left the main army, heading straight for the frontline at Tiger Valley Pass."

Fu Ye said nothing for a long beat, showing more composure than before, then nodded. "Understood."

Eunuch Qin was too wound up to eat all day, visibly aged, often lost in thought.

Fu Ye was also anxious, but he no longer wished to let others see it.

The Spring Court Hall buzzed day and night, and He Yan’s trial wrapped up quickly. Fu Ye rewrote the verdict report and had the Secretariat issue a bulletin to be sent to all provinces. Before he knew it, night had fallen.

By ten o’clock in the evening, everything finally quieted down. He had a late-night snack, washed up hastily, and lay down in the early hours of the morning.

Once in bed, he couldn’t sleep.

His thoughts drifted to Tiger Valley Pass, thousands of miles away, wondering what was happening there.

This first battle was crucial.

Fu Huang was under way more pressure than Huang Tianyi.

Could he even hold up under that?

Dazed, he drifted off at some point, plagued by nightmares.

One moment he was in the capital, the next on the battlefield. The nightmares left him clammy with sweat, waking and sleeping intermittently.

By the next day, he was out of it and could only keep himself busy.

But his heart was uneasy, filled with restless dread. Occasionally, a sudden, crushing grief would rise in his chest, making him want to weep in that instant.

He held it back each time.

Yet the report still hadn’t arrived.

That night, Fu Ye couldn’t sleep at all.

But he knew it wasn’t just him—Chancellor Xie and the others were likely sleepless as well.

The whole capital—hell, all of Great Zhou—was probably waiting for the outcome of this battle.

That day, rain lashed outside.

Lightning flashed, thunder rumbled, and dark clouds plunged the room into gloom. Even in daylight, candles had to be lit. Rain hammered the eaves, and the entire Qingyuan Palace was eerily silent, not a word spoken.

After finishing his official duties, Fu Ye wrapped himself in Fu Huang’s cloak and leaned against the couch in contemplation.

In a daze, he heard footsteps approaching outside. His heart lurched. He abruptly sat up, shoving aside the red silk canopy to look. Just then, Eunuch Qin’s voice cut through: "Your Highness! Your Highness!"

He saw Eunuch Qin stumble in, moving so quickly that he nearly fell. Fortunately, Shuang Fu was at the door and swiftly caught him.

Eunuch Qin hadn't even spoken when Fu Ye's hands began to shake.

Then he heard Eunuch Qin, drenched from head to toe, holding up the report in his hand and calling out joyfully, "Victory! Victory! A major victory at Fangzhou! Fangzhou has been reclaimed by His Majesty!"

Fu Ye: "!!"

He felt a sudden surge of emotion—a mix of sourness, fragility, and weight—overwhelming him with joy as tears streamed down his face, and he hurriedly reached out.

Eunuch Qin handed him the report. Fu Ye unfolded it and read carefully. When he finished, he fell heavily onto the daybed, tears falling without end, as if they would never stop flowing.

He wished for peace across the land, hoping there would never be war again.

Great Zhou badly needed this victory now.

Fu Ye immediately rose and ordered the news to be announced throughout the realm.

The people in the capital received the news first, spreading it gradually from the morning markets. The heavy rain that had lasted for a day or two miraculously ceased, and by the time the sun hung high in the sky, the entire capital was alive with celebration!